Wimbledon

Now I think this movie was pre-Spiderman because Kirsten Dunst is in good form as she was in another intriguing movie The Mona Lisa Smile. (Methinks Dunst was awful in Spidey and deteriorated rapidly from there). Wimbledon is about failing British tennis pro Peter Colt (Paul Bettany)now ranked 119th in the world – but used to be ranked 11th – who gains a wildcard entry into Wimbledon. He is totally down and out and decides to quit professional tennis and take up a boring job at a Club infested with middle-aged ladies more than eager to get “served” by Colt. Enter Lizzie Bradbury (Ugggh! What a combo of names - played by Kirsten) – a young and upcoming American player with sights on the cup. She is kept under tight control by her father (Sam Neill) who will do anything to make sure she is not distracted especially by young men. (I was thinking, “Where have I seen this guy (the father) before?” – it kept bothering me throughout the movie – and I finally Wikied it – to find he had starred as the Scientist in Jurassic Park!).

Owing to some strange mix-up Peter is given the key to the penthouse suite that Lizzie is occupying. The relationship begins from there and takes the standard twists and turns of a generic romcom. The movie is not over-the-top mushy and there’s good chemistry between the lead pair. You’ll find Peter reminds you of Boris Becker. I really loved the bit about the comet.

I didn’t like the way they portrayed Jake Hammond – Peter’s opponent in the finals – it was too immature. I totally disliked the Colt parents – they were out of place – and didn’t quite blend in but stood out as the caricatures they were not really made to be.

A number of real-life tennis pros make their appearance including Chris Evertt and John McEnroe.

The ending – I liked it – I’m so glad they didn’t try to take a “realistic ending” route – a perfect grand slam.